Big win for Macron as French Parliament passes anti-radicalism bill amid protests

lower house of French parliament on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved a controversial bill that would strengn oversight of mosques, schools, and sports clubs to safeguard its citizens from "radical Islamists" and to promote respect for French values - one of President Emmanuel Macron's landmark projects. After two weeks of intense debate, legislation was passed by in National Assembly house with 347-151 votes. 

draft bill was introduced by President Macron last year after a series of attacks by radical Islamists rocked country. Titled “Supporting respect for principles of Republic,” legislation intends to protect French values, including secularism and harmony. It however received strong criticism from some Muslims, lawmakers, and ors who fear government is intruding on essential freedoms and pointing a finger at Islam, nation's secondary religion.

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On Wednesday, legislation breezed through a chamber in which Macron's party has a majority and will be tabled in conservative-controlled Senate after March 30. 

bill gained added urgency after a teacher was beheaded outside Paris in October, followed by a knife attack at three people in Nice. proposed law bolsters or French efforts to fight extremism, mainly security-based.

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What's in bill?

bill will allow law enforcement ncies to quickly detain a person spreading online hate. bill will enable ncies to charge a person with online hate speech law, which will be punishable by up to three years of imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros. It aims to tackle polygamy by preventing foreign nationals from obtaining French citizenship with more than one spouse. bill will ban wearing of hijab in private and public offices. It will make threatening or intimidating elected officials punishable by five years of imprisonment and 75,000 euros fine. 

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legislation will also allow French authorities to shut down places of worship found to be propagating hate. It will allow ncies to control foreign funding of religious institutions in France. proposed bill will also make it illegal for doctors to give virginity certificates to females, making it punishable by up to one year of imprisonment and 15,000 euros fine. Homeschooling will also be banned for pupils over of three. 

'Paty law,' named after Samuel Paty, teacher beheaded outside his school west of Paris, makes it a crime to endanger life of a person by providing details of ir private life and location. Paty was slain after information about his school was posted in a video. 

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